SEBASTIAN Vettel insists there’s no reason for Red Bull to panic, despite another day of struggle as pre-season testing resumed in Bahrain on Wednesday.

The world champion was forced to stop on track after just 14 laps on the opening day at Sakhir, although the team also insisted the problems they encountered were unrelated to those experienced at Jerez three weeks ago, when they completed just 21 laps across four days.

“I hope [the car’s] competitive but we don’t know yet - it’s difficult to get a feel when you only get to do a couple of laps. Not everything is running smoothly yet. I think that’s most important - to understand how everything works,” Vettel told Sky Sports News.

“You make your car as driveable as you can. Obviously we are still at the beginning...I don’t see any reason to panic. In a way, it’s a surprise but in another way it’s not, because we knew it’s a massive challenge.

Vettel managed 14 laps in the RB10, his best time four seconds off the pace.Source:Getty Images

“We didn’t expect to have that many problems right at the beginning. But it is what it is and I know that everyone is working 100 per cent flat out to find solutions as quick as we can.”

Red Bull Race Engineering Co-ordinator Andy Damerum says they have made big improvements since Jerez, but admits the team are playing catch-up.

“It’s been a very long two weeks for everyone back at the factory and I have to say that while it might not appear so on the surface there has been a big improvement since Jerez,” he said.

“We are obviously playing catch-up and for us this was very much like a first test, so we were sending the car out to do one lap, then two and trying to build from there. In that regard the laps completed were good. However, we were sidelined by a mechanical gremlin but one unrelated to the issues in Jerez.

Red Bull bosses have a powwow with the boss of engine supplier Renault.Source:AAP

“That’s the way of testing. All these problems have to be ironed out and only reveal themselves as you progress. We’ll look at solving that issue now and we’re itching to get out on track again tomorrow.”

Vettel will spend one more day behind the wheel of the new RB10 before handing over the controls to Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo for the final two days of the test.

The German’s chances of equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of five-successive Drivers’ Championships might appearing bleaker with every day of running, but Vettel is confident the RB10 is a solid car if the team can iron out the gremlins.

“Obviously we’re not happy with where we are now and we have a long way ahead of us,” Vettel added.

“The first gut feeling from the car is OK, but we need more running. It’s not easy to find a quick fix, but I think we understand the problems. We sorted out the issues from Jerez and we were able to do some laps today.

“However, very often you fix one problem and another pops up, which is what happened. That’s testing. We all knew this year was a massive challenge and we knew it would be difficult. We obviously didn’t want this, but it is what it is and we are working flat out to solve the problems.”

The world champion still managed a smile for the press at day’s end.Source:Getty Images